NHC Estimates Harvey Damage at $125 Billion
The center's report says Harvey's flooding was catastrophic over a large area of southeastern Texas, flooding more than 300,000 structures and up to 500,000 cars. About 336,000 customers lost power during the hurricane, and an estimated 40,000 flood victims were evacuated or took refuge in Texas and Louisiana shelters.
The National Hurricane Center last week issued its report on Hurricane Harvey, describing it as the second-most costly hurricane in U.S. history, behind only Katrina in 2005. At least 68 people in Texas died from the direct effects of the storm, which is the most from any tropical cyclone to strike that state since 1919.
More than half of the Texas deaths were in Harris County, where Houston is located. "All but three of the [Texas] deaths were from freshwater flooding, and none of the deaths can be linked to the storm surge, which is quite remarkable for a category 4 hurricane landfall," co-authors Eric S. Blake and David A. Zelinsky write in their report.
They say NOAA's latest damage estimate for Harvey is $125 billion, with the 90 percent confidence interval ranging from $90 billion to $160 billion. Katrina's damage total, adjusted for inflation, also is estimated at $125 billion.
They write that Harvey's flooding was catastrophic over a large area of southeastern Texas, flooding more than 300,000 structures and up to 500,000 cars. About 336,000 customers lost power during the storm, and an estimated 40,000 flood victims were evacuated or took refuge in Texas and Louisiana shelters.